Ash tray or container.



W. L. SMITH ASH TRAY OR CONTAINER.

I APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17, 1912v Patentd Aug. 26, 1913 WESLEY LINroRn SMITH, or rirrsncncn, PENNSYLVANIA.

ASH TRAY "on CONTAINER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed September 17, 1912. Serial No. 720,825.

Patented Aug. 26,1913.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Wnsnnr LINFORD- SMITH, a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful I'mpro-vement in Ash Trays or Containers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ash trays or re ceivers such as are used by smokers to hold ashes and waste ends of cigars, cigarettes, etc.

The object of the invention is to produce a 'simple, eifective, and attractive receiver which normally is tightly closed, which may be readily opened by the mere act of thrusting a cigar or cigarette thereinto and which is self-closing, cleanly, antiseptic and can be readilgr emptied.

A urther object of the invention is to provide a combined ash tray and match safe or holder of simple and improved construction.

The invention comprises the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective View of a device constructed according to my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the same when in normal or closed position; Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on the line 33, Fig. 2, showing the same in open position with a cigar end being inserted thereinto; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of a spring; and Fig.5 is a detail view of a modified form of the invention.

The ash receiver shown in the drawings comprises a suitable jar or vessel l-which may be formed of any suitable material, as glass, porcelain or bronze, and preferably translucent or opaque to prevent the contents being seen. The vessel may be of any size, shape or proportions and, as

shown, is round with a thick, heavy base. 2

to prevent it from tipping over. The top of the receptacle is concave orsaucer shaped, as 2th, to receive ashes and form ashelf or resting place for cigars or cigarettes. It is provided with a central opening forming a mouth 4 around which is formed a conical seat 5, the angleof inclination thereof being preferably about 45, although this may be varied. This seat may be formed in the case of glass or'porcelain by its glazed surface or by grinding the same, and inthe case of bronze or other metal by turning or otherwise suitably shaping the same. The recep tacle is closed by a member having an enlarged stopper or closure 6, the outersurface of which is conical and formed on the same inclination as that of the seat 5 to closely lit. the same, and either glazed, ground or turned, as preferred. The stop per is connected by a reduced spindle 7 to a depending weight 8, shown as of bulbous shape and which may be either integral with the stopper 6 or a separate part connected thereto in any manner. Preferably, however, the material of the closure and weight willv be the same. The stopper or closure projects above the upper surface of the receptacle and its peripheral portion forms a lip 9 which overhangs the same around the seat 5,

stopper or closure 6 to the seat 5 by gravity, and the surfaces of the stopper and seat are so formed as to give a perfectly tight fit and practically seal the receptacle, thereby preventing the light ashes and fumes from escaping.

Inuse of the receptacle the waste stub or end of a cigar or cigarette is thrust or pushed into the receptacle under the overhanging lip 9, as indicated at A, Fig.3. The weight 8 tends to retain the stopper or closure in its normal position with the axis of the stopper and weight vertical. The force applied in inserting a cigar, however, lifts the stopper and causes it toride up on the opposite side of seat 5 and tip it out of the vertical. The displacement thus caused is suflicient to permit the cigar or cigarette to be thrust into thespace between the reduced spindle 7 and the seat 5, when, upon being released, the cigar drops into the chamber in the receiver. T he fingers being withdrawn,.th,e'- weight 8 automatically returns the stopper or closure to its normal position to again tightly seal the opening of the receiver. It will thus be observed that a single thrusting movement with one hand opens the receptacle and places the tacle then automatically closing itself. The

concave or saucer like shelf 3 forms a convenient resting place for cigars or cigarettes and from which they are not easily jarred or accidentally displaced. Preferably, the inclination of the concave upper surface of the receiver will be such that loose ashes placed thereon will slide by gravity toward thecentral mouth '4 so thateach time thereceiver is opened theshelf .3 willautomatically clean itself of ashes deposited thereon.

The receiver is preferably also formed to contain or carry matches, although this is not essential.v Asshowninl igs. l to 3,.the

' yielding spring arms 14,- which project from beneath the overhanging walls 12Jand engagethe sides of the cover 15 of. a match box of the usual type forholding safety matches. The stand or support is also provided with up-standing supports 16 suitably secured to the base 13, and which support the drawer .l7 elevated above the cover thereof, as shown in- Fig. 2.- The spring arms 14 are completely hidden within the recess 11 and yieldingly engage the side walls of the cover, and thereby securely hold the same removably in' place.-

It will of course be understoodthat other means than that shown may be used for supporting :a match box on the cover of the recelver.

- In Fig. 5 a modified form of the invention'is illustrated in which the'stopper or closure 6 is provided at its top with an upstanding cup '18, preferably formed integral therewith, and which is hollowed out toprovide an interior space 19 for the matches. If desired, the outer surface of the cup 18 may be grooved or roughened, as indicated at 20, to provide a convenient striking surface for igniting the matches.

"Preferably, the weight 8 depends some distance below the stopper 6 in order to bring the center of gravity of the weight, 8 as low as possible and increase the tendency of the parts to return to normal position and. tightly close the receptacle. Also, it will be understood'that the largest diameter of the weight 8 is less than the smallest diameter of the mouth 4cv to enable the closure to be inserted into or removed from the receptacle. Both closure and receptaple may be given any ornamental shape and maybe stamped, impressed or embossed with advertising or other matter. r

The entire device is simple, inexpensive and sanitary and may be readily cleaned or flushed by merely removing the stopper and weight.

V /mat I claim is 1. A device of the character described, comprising a receptacle provided with an opening forming a mouth, a stopper having its upper portion projecting above said mouth and resting upon the edge of'said opening, and a weight secured to said stopper.

2. [A ass; of the tense, isciab'd,

cdm'prising a receptacle provided withan opening forming. a mouth, a stopper having its upper. portion projecting above said mouth and resting upon the edge of said opening, and a weight secured to said. stop-, 3 per, said stopper being formed to receive and hoid a-s'u'pply of matches.

3.- A device of the character described, comprising a receptacle provided with an opening forming a mouth, a stopper having x its upper portion projecting above Sald- "mouth and resting upon the edgeof said opening, and a weight secured to said stopper, said stopper being provided with a pocket or cavity arranged to receive and hold a supply of matches. I 1

at. A device of the character described, comprising a receptacle provided with an opening forming a mouth, a stopper having its upper portion projecting abovesaid. mouth and resting upon't-he-edge of said.

opening, a weight secured to said stopper, and a match holder secured to said stopper.

5. A device of the character described, comprising a receptacle provided. with an opening formingaanouth, a stopper fitting said 'mouth and having a portion projecting.

thereabove and adapted to be moved by the insertion of an article betweensaid stopper and mouth, and a weight depending from said stopper. 7 v

I 6. A device of the character described;

comprising a receptacle provided with an opening forming a seat, a stopper having an adapted to be raised by the insertion anarticle between said stopper and seat, and,

-a weight depending from said stopper.

7. A device. of the character described,

comprising a receptacle provided with any opening having an inclined edge forming a seat, a stopper having an inclined ,portion fitting and resting on said seat-and projecting above said receptacle, and a weight depending from said stopper and jecting ab ove said receptacle, a weight depending from said stopper and arranged to normally hold the same to its seat, and a match holder secured to the upper portion of said stopper.

9-. A device of the character described, comprising a receptacle provided with an opening having an inclined edge forming a seat, a stopper having-an inclined portion fitting and resting on said seat and projecting above said receptacle, a weight depending from said stopper and arranged 1 100 inclined portion resting on sald seat and v to normally-hold the same toits seat, said stopper being provided with a cavity, and a match holder having a portion projecting into said cavity and secured therein.

10. A device of the character described, comprising a receptacle provided with an opening having an inclined edge forming a seat, a stopper having an inclined portion fitting and resting on said seat and projecting above said receptacle, a weight depend-- ing from said stopper and arranged to normally holdthe same to its seat, said stopper being provided With a cavity having inclined Walls, a match holder having a portion projecting into said cavity, and a 15 spring Within said cavity and arranged to frictionally engage said match holder to thereby removably hold the same in place. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 

